Maiduguri, Nigeria – Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have arrested 18 serving soldiers and 15 police officers accused of selling arms to terrorists and other criminal groups, military officials announced on Friday.
Speaking to journalists in Maiduguri, Major Ademola Owolana, Staff Officer for Administration, relayed the statement of Theatre Commander Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar. He detailed the success of Operation Snowball, a military exercise launched in August 2024 to curb ammunition racketeering in Nigeria’s North-East.
The operation spanned 11 states, with suspects apprehended in Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Enugu, Lagos, Plateau, Kaduna, Rivers, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In addition to the military and police personnel, eight civilians and one traditional ruler were detained.
Among those arrested was Ameh Raphael, an armourer at the 7th Division Garrison, who allegedly began trafficking arms in 2018. Authorities reported that Raphael had N45 million in his bank account. Similarly, Seidi Adamu of the 3rd Division Ordinance Services, involved in the trade since 2022, had N34 million in his account. A police inspector, Enoch Ngwa, was also implicated, with investigations revealing N135 million had passed through his bank account.
The arrests highlight the military’s ongoing efforts to tackle internal corruption and disrupt the supply of weapons to criminal elements, particularly in the conflict-ridden North-East. Major Owolana reiterated the commitment of Operation Hadin Kai to rooting out such activities and restoring security across the region.
Further investigations are underway to uncover the full extent of the trafficking network and ensure all perpetrators face justice.
